Smith Pulls Double Reverse On A&m Hush Money Charge

SPORTS THIS MORNING

Former Texas A&M football player George Smith, who already has recanted his statements on being paid to cover NCAA violations by the school, re-recanted Saturday.

Smith told The Dallas Morning News that former coach Jackie Sherrill paid him ''hush money'' to keep quiet about NCAA rules infractions, and he originally recanted only after being promised more.

''And, you know, I had to get something pretty good to do what I did,'' Smith said. ''They promised me enough to finish my education, which is all I ever really wanted to do - $30,000. In that neighborhood.''

Smith also pledged to set the record straight with the NCAA.

Meanwhile, documents the university released Friday of its investigation into the matter confirmed its finding in February that Smith was not paid to be quiet about alleged NCAA violations.

But Smith's aunt has told investigators that she heard Smith threatening to tell NCAA investigators about A&M rules violations if athletic department officials did not send him money.

Smith said last fall that Sherrill sent him $4,400 from 1986 through September 1988 to silence him about rules violations in the football program.

At a news conference at the A&M campus on Nov. 19 - a day after the remarks became public - Smith said that he fabricated the story to make a book the reporter was writing more interesting.